The GOP establishment is going all in to beat Trump. Will it work?

[poweRob]

"...facing the prospect that the GOP’s 2024 primary could put Trump at the top of the ballot for the third time in a row — a likely formula for disaster — the empire is trying to strike back. In the past week, the vast network of financial contributors and political foot soldiers led by billionaire Charles Koch has announced plans to get involved early and aggressively in the GOP primaries “to support a candidate in the Republican presidential primary who can lead our country forward, and who can win,”. ...Though she didn’t say so specifically, Seidel made it clear that candidate will not be named Trump. ...A day later, the anti-tax powerhouse group Club for Growth announced a lineup of potential presidential contenders who will appear at its annual donor retreat next month. Trump, the only candidate who has formally declared that he is running, was not among the group,

These Republicans are facing the reality that the only way to stop Trump — and it is far from certain that it will work — is for the party establishment to pick a favorite early and rally behind him or her. Beyond that, they must put their considerable resources into anti-Trump messaging in the key primary states. That step would relieve their candidate of having to go negative on a former president who still has a devoted following among GOP voters.

...This is hardly a fail-safe strategy for fending off Trump and his MAGA forces, and given how many candidates are mulling a race, it might be impossible to pull off. But what has finally dawned on the Republican establishment is that continuing to appease Trump while hoping for the best is a ticket to electoral oblivion."

Link

They don't seem to object to Trump's corruption, chaos, incompetence or cruelty. They just don't think he can win.

I don't think it will work. Too many alternatives will split the vote.

They are not going "all in" on trump. They can't even say anything negative about him out loud. Total cowards.

 

[lwf]

"...facing the prospect that the GOP’s 2024 primary could put Trump at the top of the ballot for the third time in a row — a likely formula for disaster — the empire is trying to strike back. In the past week, the vast network of financial contributors and political foot soldiers led by billionaire Charles Koch has announced plans to get involved early and aggressively in the GOP primaries “to support a candidate in the Republican presidential primary who can lead our country forward, and who can win,”. ...Though she didn’t say so specifically, Seidel made it clear that candidate will not be named Trump. ...A day later, the anti-tax powerhouse group Club for Growth announced a lineup of potential presidential contenders who will appear at its annual donor retreat next month. Trump, the only candidate who has formally declared that he is running, was not among the group,

These Republicans are facing the reality that the only way to stop Trump — and it is far from certain that it will work — is for the party establishment to pick a favorite early and rally behind him or her. Beyond that, they must put their considerable resources into anti-Trump messaging in the key primary states. That step would relieve their candidate of having to go negative on a former president who still has a devoted following among GOP voters.

...This is hardly a fail-safe strategy for fending off Trump and his MAGA forces, and given how many candidates are mulling a race, it might be impossible to pull off. But what has finally dawned on the Republican establishment is that continuing to appease Trump while hoping for the best is a ticket to electoral oblivion."

Link

They don't seem to object to Trump's corruption, chaos, incompetence or cruelty. They just don't think he can win.

I don't think it will work. Too many alternatives will split the vote.

I don't think it will work either. Trump will run third party if he doesn't get the Republican nomination and Biden will win. If he does get the Republican nomination, moderates and Independents will vote against him, and Biden will still win.

I can't see a good outcome for Republicans if Trump is in the picture.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I don't think it will work either. Trump will run third party if he doesn't get the Republican nomination and Biden will win. If he does get the Republican nomination, moderates and Independents will vote against him, and Biden will still win.

I can't see a good outcome for Republicans if Trump is in the picture.

I agree with this, only because I would be just as motivated to vote against Trump in '24 as I was in '20.

Of course, DeSantis is just Trump lite. Any other Republican is just running for a VP slot for one of those two.

 

[Hatuey]

Trump has claimed he knows the workings or the political system in the US better than anyone, he's claimed he has paid all of these people and controlled their agenda.


MAGA: Trump is an outsider, bro.

 

[justabubba]

This is probably why Haley has declared so early, trying to be that one they all get behind.

it may also be that she wants to distinguish herself from the MAGAts for the segment of the population we formerly recognized to be 'republicans'. as long as trump is declared, that MAGA bloc will be with him. she (and others) will need to appeal to that remaining portion of republicans hoping she (and they) can snag much of the independent vote
the only person on the horizon capable of displacing tRump seems to be desantis

time for the democrat party to heed napoleon's observation:

'Never interfere with an enemy while he's in the process of destroying himself. '

 

[Chomsky]

The public has lacked strong alternative candidates willing to depart from the establishment agenda. Trump has shown himself to be a strong determined challenger to establishment politics, and that's what's put the establishment so up in arms against him. They see him as a real threat to their power, and that's why they and their media minions are working overtime to denounce and discredit him. Back when Trump was outside of politics, and just part of the donor class, none of the establishment politicians were concerned about him at all.

You're living in the past, sanman. Today the Clinton's, just like the electorate, want nothing to do with Trump.

 

[Chomsky]

I don't think it will work either. Trump will run third party if he doesn't get the Republican nomination and Biden will win. If he does get the Republican nomination, moderates and Independents will vote against him, and Biden will still win.

I can't see a good outcome for Republicans if Trump is in the picture.

There are two things Trump can use, though:

1] Federal Pardon
2] Republican appointed DOJ

For that, Trump may be willing to play ball.

 

[Chomsky]

This is probably why Haley has declared so early, trying to be that one they all get behind.

it may also be that she wants to distinguish herself from the MAGAts for the segment of the population we formerly recognized to be 'republicans'. as long as trump is declared, that MAGA bloc will be with him. she (and others) will need to appeal to that remaining portion of republicans hoping she (and they) can snag much of the independent vote
the only person on the horizon capable of displacing tRump seems to be desantis

time for the democrat party to heed napoleon's observation:

I think she's auditioning for V.P.

 

[sanman]

You're living in the past, sanman. Today the Clinton's, just like the electorate, want nothing to do with Trump.

Straw man -- I didn't claim they did. You totally didn't read my post. I said that prior to him actually running for political office, Clintons never disliked Trump at all. So all the attacks on Trump are just political theater by the establishment politicians who don't like him intruding on their games.

 

[Chomsky]

Straw man -- I didn't claim they did. You totally didn't read my post. I said that prior to him actually running for political office, Clintons never disliked Trump at all. So all the attacks on Trump are just political theater by the establishment politicians who don't like him intruding on their games.

I don't buy that they're "theatre". Many of us changed, once we got to know Trump. That's why he didn't get re-elected. He's an easy guy to dislike. You get to know him, you end-up hating him. It happened to the whole country (or at least enough of the country to boot him out of office).

 

[justabubba]

I don't think it will work either. Trump will run third party if he doesn't get the Republican nomination and Biden will win. If he does get the Republican nomination, moderates and Independents will vote against him, and Biden will still win.

I can't see a good outcome for Republicans if Trump is in the picture.

and if tRump does get the nomination nod, i will be surprised if Liz Cheney does not run an independent campaign to drain off authentic republican votes

 

[Lovebug]

You're living in the past, sanman. Today the Clinton's, just like the electorate, want nothing to do with Trump.

At the same token I was once a Bill fan, defended his faux pas as something that should have been between him and his wife. I know, I was far from political back in the day. I remember yelling at the TV, was it Peter Jennings reporting, because they really went after him. Then he lied, flat out. So that was that. Then there was Hillary. Loyal or calculating and looking ahead?
Trump, just another adulterer and cheat and liar. That is why I couldn't vote for any of them.
What I don't like about the Koch plan is that his money is influencing our election. Fine, he wants to oust Trump but be careful here. Sometimes the enemy of your enemy isn't your friend.
I like what Biden is doing and wish Koch would let things play out.

 

[Chomsky]

At the same token I was once a Bill fan, defended his faux pas as something that should have been between him and his wife. I know, I was far from political back in the day. I remember yelling at the TV, was it Peter Jennings reporting, because they really went after him. Then he lied, flat out. So that was that. Then there was Hillary. Loyal or calculating and looking ahead?
Trump, just another adulterer and cheat and liar. That is why I couldn't vote for any of them.

I never particularly was a Clinton's fan (though I did respect Bill's political acumen). They both seemed to personify the epitome of slippery politicians. I couldn't imagine trusting either one in real life. I'd trust Joe. I'd probably trust Barack. No way would I trust Bill or Hillary!

What I don't like about the Koch plan is that his money is influencing our election. Fine, he wants to oust Trump but be careful here. Sometimes the enemy of your enemy isn't your friend.
I like what Biden is doing and wish Koch would let things play out.

Well said in the bolded!

 

[sanman]

I don't buy that they're "theatre". Many of us changed, once we got to know Trump. That's why he didn't get re-elected. He's an easy guy to dislike. You get to know him, you end-up hating him. It happened to the whole country (or at least enough of the country to boot him out of office).

So you're basically telling me that the Clintons were totally oblivious to and naive about Trump, until he started campaigning for president -- such BS.
They knew each other.

 

[Chomsky]

So you're basically telling me that the Clintons were totally oblivious to and naive about Trump, until he started campaigning for president -- such BS.
They knew each other.

I don't think anyone realized what Trump would do once in office, sanman. Who could envision the Big Lie or 1/6? I surely couldn't.

 

[Chomsky]

and if tRump does get the nomination nod, i will be surprised if Liz Cheney does not run an independent campaign to drain off authentic republican votes

I think that's as fair a bet as any, justabubba.

 

[Lovebug]

I don't think anyone realized what Trump would do once in office, sanman. Who could envision the Big Lie or 1/6? I surely couldn't.

but you don't turn into a pompous a.. overnight either.

 

[sanman]

I don't think anyone realized what Trump would do once in office, sanman. Who could envision the Big Lie or 1/6? I surely couldn't.

Oh please - spare me the drama.

"I was shocked SHOCKED I tell you!"

 

[Lovebug]

I never particularly was a Clinton's fan (though I did respect Bill's political acumen). They both seemed to personify the epitome of slippery politicians. I couldn't imagine trusting either one in real life. I'd trust Joe. I'd probably trust Barack. No way would I trust Bill or Hillary!



Well said in the bolded!

According to my husband, and I have come to think so myself in recent years. the only politician with integrity is old man Bernie.

 

[MTAtech]

Establishment are scared of outsiders and the fresh air they've brought into the stagnant corruption of smoke-filled backrooms.

The voting public are not on the side of the establishment who don't have their best interests at heart.

Trump doesn’t have the voting public’s best interests at heart either. He has Trump’s best interest at heart.

There already is a party that has the average American’s interests at heart. They’re called Democrats.

 

[MTAtech]

They are not going "all in" on trump. They can't even say anything negative about him out loud. Total cowards.

Secretly, they hope that he would die and let them off the hook.

 

[justabubba]

Secretly, they hope that he would die and let them off the hook.

i can understand some hold that position, hoping he goes before the party dies

while i do not wish him harm, neither do i wish him well

 

[sanman]

Trump doesn’t have the voting public’s best interests at heart either. He has Trump’s best interest at heart.

There already is a party that has the average American’s interests at heart. They’re called Democrats.

Heh, sure -- they just want to remove the filibuster, pack the Supreme Court, and politically weaponize the FBI against their political opponents. That's so very much in the public interest.

 

[hecatmoggie]

only put 2-3 candidates up to beat Trump like Desantis and people won't vote for Trump in the primaries

c'mon ... Trump wouldn't have won the 2016 nomination had there not been like 12 others in the race

many people like me (2 time trump voter) do NOT want Trump in 2024 but the GOP has to get other candidates that are better

give us that, and we'll vote for them and NOT Trump

 

[justabubba]

only put 2-3 candidates up to beat Trump like Desantis and people won't vote for Trump in the primaries

c'mon ... Trump wouldn't have won the 2016 nomination had there not been like 12 others in the race

many people like me (2 time trump voter) do NOT want Trump in 2024 but the GOP has to get other candidates that are better

give us that, and we'll vote for them and NOT Trump

who do you have which would meet that criterion?